Beck backs President Obama over Trump's attacks... but is it because he's worried Trump might replace him at Fox News?

The last person President Barack Obama might expect support from is controversial Fox News host Glenn Beck.

The presenter seemed to give his backing to the President against heavy criticism by Donald Trump who has questioned whether he was born in America and that he may be a Muslim.

But Beck’s warning that Trump’s remarks are making him ‘a little uncomfortable recently’ may have more to do with Fox News announcing the billionaire will be given a regular slot on the station, while the host’s show may be scrapped.

Clash: Beck said he was 'uncomfortable' with Trump seemingly joining the birther movement and suggesting Obama may be a Muslim

He was speaking on the channel’s The O’Reilly Factor show on Friday, where he discussed Trump’s two-part interview earlier in the week.

Trump, who is considering whether to throw his hat into the ring to become Republican nominee for President at the 2012 election, said Obama ‘doesn’t have a birth certificate’.

He went on: ‘Now, he may have one but there is something on that birth certificate — maybe religion, maybe it says he's a Muslim, I don't know. Maybe he doesn't want that. Or, he may not have one.’

Beck told Bill O’Reilly ‘There is something reasonable to, you know, a reasonable conversation if you don't believe that he has a birth certificate.

Donald Trump told Bill O'Reilly Obama may have a birth certificate but it may be hiding something: 'maybe it says he's a Muslim'

‘You can say, “I don't believe he has a birth certificate.” But then he goes into “I do not believe he has a birth certificate” and then he releases one that's worse than Obama's.

'And then he comes back and he says on your program, “He might be a Muslim too.” I'm like, come on!’

After Trump made his allegations about the President – who is Christian and was born in Honolulu, Hawaii – he released a certificate of his own.

Beck may be defending the President because Trump has been offered a slot on Fox News while his own show is under threat

But this was roundly mocked because it was a hospital certificate rather than an official birth certificate.

In Friday’s discussion with Beck, O'Reilly pointed out that Trump is ‘getting a massive amount of attention quickly’ by wading in to the ‘birther’ debate – which Republicans are desperate to distance themselves from.

But Beck argued there should be a push for ‘serious candidates who could shake things up by not saying provocative things.’

In the past Beck has been far from shy in coming forward with his own views on President Obama.

In 2009 he was forced to apologise are saying: ‘'This President, I think, has exposed himself over and over again as a guy who has a deep-seated hatred for white people or the white culture.'

His own Fox News show is under threat, after 1million viewers abandoned him in the last year.

Analysts believe his contract is unlikely to be renewed, and a number of radio stations have ditched his show.

Trump, on the other hand, has just been handed a slot as a regular on the station’s Monday morning show Fox and Friends.

A promo playing on the station said: ‘The Donald now makes his voice loud and clear every Monday on Fox.’